Pats QB Brady Not Happy with Contract Situation

ESPN Senior NFL Insider Chris Mortensen was a guest yesterday on “NFL Live”, and shared his thoughts on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady entering the final year of his contract, and what he has heard about Brady’s feelings on the issue.

When asked at what level he would rate Brady’s unhappiness with his current contract, Mortensen replied, “”On a scale of 1 to 10, and this is based on what current players (and) former players who know Tom or have spoken to him, and had some communication with him, they say his unhappiness is real, that it’s above a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.

He’s going to make $6.5 million this year. Robert Kraft, the owner, has alluded to the uncertain labor situation. Just as you see with the Broncos and Elvis Dumervil, if you want to get a deal done, you can get a deal done. They did one with Vince Wilfork.

I think on principle, Brady is disappointed that they haven’t stepped up and done the right thing. We’ll see if something gets done. There has been a lot of speculation about whether he’d miss a day of training camp just to make a statement. I don’t see that happening. Tom is too competitive, he’s very professional, but the relationship has definitely chilled, and I think has chilled on a business level and on a personal level.”

Mortensen later said he would be surprised if Brady came out and expressed his feelings publicly on his contract situation.

“I know from speaking to enough people that he’s unhappy and the Patriots know he’s not all that happy. Ultimately, he’ll show up and play, but I do believe he expects them to show up and do the right thing at some point. The right thing, to me, would put him in the $20 million per year range, which I think Peyton Manning is going to eventually get.”